Tennis racket frame



Aug. 16, 1932. w. BANCRFT TENNIS RAGKET Fmum Filed Nov. 22. 1930 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Tennis moxn'r FRAME .Application led November 22, 1930. Serial No. 497,581.

The present invention relates to improvements in tennis rackets and has for an object to provide certain improvements over the prior Patent No. 1,156,340, granted Oct. 12,

1915, to Frederick J. Bancroft. l s In that patent use was made of a rawhide strip interposed between the inner and outer strips of wood which o to form the bow and handle of a tennis rac 'et. According to the l0 patent, the strip of rawhide was continued through the extent of the bow and for some' distance into the handle. In dry climates the rawhide has hada tendency to shrink, thus pulling the top ofthe bow out of shape. This distortion resulted either in a twisted bow or in a pulling over to one side of the entire top. The present invention is lintended to overcome these disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction and to minimize its expense.

VViththe foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more particularly described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which like parts are denoted by like or similar reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an improved tennis racket construction according to the present invention but with the net removed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, taken lon an enlarged scale, offa portion of the bow Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Figure 4 is also a section taken on the line 44, also in Fig. 2. Y p Referring more 'particularly to the draw: ing, 5 and 6 desi ate the inner and outer strips of wood which constitute the bow of a tennis racket. These strips also referably extend into a handle 7. 4'At 8 is in 'cated the throat piece or crotch located between lthe adjacent portions of the inner strip 5 where the same converges into the handle.

Now, in accordance with the invention, a strip of rawhide 9 is placed between the wooden strips 5* and 6, but only across the uppery Q fportion of the bow` ofthe racket. Such rawhide strip'9 is supplemented by thirnstrips of black walnut lO and 11. The outer ends of the black walnut strips 10 and 11 are' spliced or otherwise secured to the opposite ends of the rawhide strip 9; while the inner convergent ends of the black' walnut strips` '10 and 11 pass into thehandle 7, maintain ing their position between the strips 5 and 6. The rawhide strip 9 and the black walnut strips 10 and 11 are preferably of the same Width as the wooden strips 5 and 6, and they are exposed upon opposite faces of the racket frame. The net, which has been omitted for clearness, may be utilized to secure the varipus strips together into a laminated strucc5 ure. Y

Rawhide .or other strips 12 and 13 may be v applied to the exterior of the outer wooden strip 6 immediately beyond the throat -8 of the framefor compensating for strain atthis To point. This construction is shown in the prior patent aforesaid. In such prior patent, .1t was proposed to place a reinforcing strip of rawhide across the throat piece, but I preferably employ a wooden strip 14 in its place. '75 In this way rawhide is removed from the inner lower portion of the bow frame and the rawhide strips 12 and 13 upon the exterior are of only comparatively shortlength and do not extend to the outer rawhide strip 9. S3 ,In Figures 3 and 4 are shown the openings 15 for the Stringing of the racket.

In Figure 4 is shown a section 'taken through the top portion of the racket bow frame, illustratmg the rawhide strip 9 inter- 8.

.posed between'the wooden frame strips 5 or other fastening means may be employed 05 I to secure the strips together throughout extensive tapered or wedge surface. Also glue or other material or fastenings may be employed to secure the strips of wood to the strlp of rawhide and the strips of black wall l rl. An improved-tennis racket comprising tainin nut; The racket will be strung and finished in tccordance with usual methods and standar s.

The rawhide strip 9 will incorporate the necessary strength and tou hness to the frame at a point most remote rom the handle 7 and throat piece 8. The black walnut st ips 10 and ll-form an unbroken link between t is rawhide strip 9 and the handle 7 thus lmitting the structure into a united whole. Externally the bow frame and handle will be reinforced at a point adjacent the handle by the rawhide strips 12 and 13. The black walnut strip has been .found to resist shrinkage especially in dry climate and they have for this reason been utilized to replace the rawhide in the old structure throughout the sides of the bow and the handle. At the same time all of the advantages of the rawhide structure are retained at the outer portion of the bowwhere they are most needed. The

black walnut wood is especially advantageous'for the purpose, possessing a desirable toughness, durability and flexibility. It is easy to handle and obviates all of the disadvantages ofthe prior construction, whi-le reall of the desired features.

Having thus describedthe invention, what is claimed vas new is:

aplurality of bow stripsof wood, a strip of rawhide interposed between the wooden strips at the outer ortopgportion of the bow,

bow frame.

ilo

A .ai and supplementary stripso black walnut or other appropriate substantially non-shrinkable material joined with. the ends of the rawwood at'the 'sides and lower portion of the 2. An improved tennis racket comprising a plurality of bow strips of wood, a strip ofA rawhide interposed between the wooden strips at-'the outer portion only of the' bow frame,

black walnut or equivalent substantiall nonshrinkable wooden strips extending 1n the sides and lower portion of the bow frame be tween the wooden strips and connected to opposite ends of the rawhide strip, and means for uniting all of the strips. Y 'Y i 3. An improved tennis racket comprising a plurality of bow strips, a strip of rawhide interposed between the first named strips v the'outer portion only of the' bow, black walnon-shrinkable strips spliced to the ends ofthe rawnut or equivalent substantially hidestrip and forming continuations of the portion ofthe bow frame, said black walnut gethe r. .4. An improved tennis racket comprising? top portion only of the b ow frame and lfing between such inner and outer strips an secured thereto, the end portions of said rawhide strip being bevelled on a gentle bevel, two stri s of black walnut or equivalent nonshrinkagle material forming continuations of saidrawhide strip and extending between the two first mentioned. frame strlps in the side portions and lower part of the bow and extending into the handle said black walnut strips being bevelled at their outer portions on gentle bevels mating with the bevel 'ends of the rawhide strips, fastening means for securing the bevel portions of the rawhide strip and-the black walnut strip together, and fastening means for securing all of the strips together.

5. An improved tennis racket comprising a bow portion and a handle, said bow portion composed of inner and outer strips formbow frame between said strips, black walnut or other equivalent non-shrinkable strip secured to the ends of the rawhide-strip and extending in the side portions .at lower part of the bow frame, said black walnut lstrips also extending into and forming a part of the handle, a throat piece at the convergent.

ends of the inner frame strip, awooden strip extending across said throat piece y.and u .along the sides ofthe inner frame stri an a rawhide strip. applied toftlieexterlor of the outer frame immediately ad]acent the throat piece...

signature.

WILLIAM BANCROFT.`

vIntestimony whereof I herennteiamg-my lrawhide strip in the opposite sides and lower' Y inner and outer frame bow. strips, a, handle into vwhich said strips extendz a'relatvely short length vofrrawhide extending across the y 

